Separable fastener



Sept. 8, 1936. z. B. SPI-:NGE

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed vApril 8, 1935 VL W: a..

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Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED vSTATES PATENT oFFlcE SEPARABLE FASTENER Zeno B. Spence, Goldsboro, N. C.

Application April 8, 1935, Serial No. 15.297

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a separable fastener structure designed primarily asa combined dust pan suspension, hanger and coupling structure more particularly a separable fastener for the purpose to be hereinafter referred to.

My invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure of the class referred to for detachably coupling a. dust pan in fixed relation to and for suspending it from one side of the Yhead of a broom.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a means for detachably connecting a dust pan to one side of a. broom head, with the pan so arranged relative to the broom head to prevent any interference with the sweeping action of the broom.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for detachably and firmly suspending a dust pan from o-ne side yof a brush head when the pan is not desired for use.

A further object of my invention resides in the providing of, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a means whereby a dust pan may be carried by a brush head until the pan is desired for use, and with such means so constructed to permit the pan to be expeditiously removed from and connected to the broom head respectively when the pan is to be used and after use.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined removable dust pan, pan hanger and Ypan coupler structure of very light weight for attachment to a broom head and of a weight which will not increase the weight of thebrush head to an extent to cause a tiresome sweeping actionwhen the broom is used.

Further objects of my invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to a broom head, light in weight, thoroughly efficient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that ch-anges, variations and modifications may be had therein which fall within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a broom head with the dust pan detachably connected therewith,

Figure 2 is a view looking towards one edge of the broom and partly in vertical section illustrating the dust pan and hanger and coupler for the dust pan installed,

Figure3 is an elevation looking towards the side of the broom head shown in Figure 1 with the dust pan removed,

Figure 4 is a section on line4-4, Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the dust pan,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the combined hanger and coupler, and

Figure 'll is a view upon an enlarged scale looking towards a side edge of the combined latching and suspension element.

The drawing villustrates the head 'I and portion 8 of the handle of a broom, and with reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a dust pan 9 suspendingly supported on the side I0 of head 1. The pan 9 is constructed from any sultable light weight material. The pan is of less length and of less width than the length and width of the side I0. The pan 9 includes a bottom II which slightly increases in width from its inner to its outer end, a slightly diverging rim I2 coextensive with the sides and inner end of bottom I I, an outwardly directed flange I3 at the top of and coextensive with rim I2 and a handle I4 in the form of a loop. The stretch I 5 of flange I3 arranged on the inner end stretch I6 of the flange is of segmental contour and of greater width than the side stretches of the flange. The handle I4 has forward extensions I'I arranged below and secured to the inner face of stretch I5 by the holdfast means I8. The handle I4 is disposed centrally of stretch I5. The side stretches of rim I2 gradually increase in height from their outer ends to a point outwardly adjacent the points of mergence thereof with stretch I6.

With reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6, there is shown a combined hanger and coupler element or female member I9 of the separable fastener and which is formed of any suitable light Weight material. The element I9 includes a U- shaped coupler consisting of a head or base 20 and a pair of bendable arms 2|, 22 integral withopposite ends of the head. 'I'he arms have pointed ends 23. The element I9 also includes a yoke shaped hanger formed of a head 24 having at its top an outwardly extending guide lip 24a, a pair of sides 25, 26 integral with opposite ends of the head 24 and a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 21, 28 integral respectively with the inner ends of and disposed at right angles to the arms 25, 26. The flanges 21, 28 are anchored to the outer face and are iiush with the side and end edges of head 20. The head or front 24 and sides 25, 26 of the hanger coact with the head 29 to provide a vertically disposed passage 29. The hanger may be termed an inwardly opening channel shape part Whichcoacts with .the head .or base 2.9 to provide a keeper for a resiliently latching tongue to be referred to.

With reference to Figures 2, 5, and '7, there .is shown a resilient combined latching and suspension element 30 Which is formed of any suitable light weight material. The element 30 consistsof a base 3| and a resilient strap-like extension or member 32 of less width and of materially :greater length than that of the base. The inner. end of extension or member 32 merges into the upper end edge of base 3|. The extension or member consists of :an outward'lyextending upwardly .inclined upper .stretch lIn' par-t "3'3 merging .into a depending inwardly part 34 of compound curvature of :a length .to extend'below the .base.3|.. The part 34 merges at its lower endinto a segmental part J extending outwardly withznespect to part 34. The base 3| is seatedagainst the'outer face of bottom Vvnf pan 9 .in `proximity tothe stretch I6 of rim |2 and is-an'chored to :bottom by the holdfast means 36. The part .33 Vbears .against the outerfface of .stretch |6of rim .|2. The point of mergence 31 between the parts 34, A35, when the pan B is detached, seats-:against bottom 'The part 33 constitutes a suspension for ipan 9. The parts 34, v35 form the :outerstretch of .the extensionor member .32 and-constitute va resilient shiftable frictional latching tongue for firmly securing the pan 9 detachably in position when :the latter is coupled to the :broom head The combined hanger and coupler element 9 is vfor connection to the head vat a point between the transverse median and Yupper -end of the iatter. The arms 2|, 22 are inserted through the Ybroom head to position head of element :I1-9 against the side "|0. The arms 2|, 22 are 'of greatrer length than the :thickness .of .broom .head .1 whereby when said arms are extended through the latter they will project from the sides 38 Iof head The projecting portions of arms 2|, 2?. are bent towards each other and directly .against ,side 88, as shown in Figure 4, thereby anchoring element -|9 to head 1. The parts 34, ofelement -are to vcoact with a wall of passage 29 to frictionally-.latch the pan 9 with-the broom head and in this connection part `34 is extended through passage 29, and as the tendency of said parts 34, is to shift in a direction towards the bottom of the pan-9, it follows that the pan will be held rmly suspended with respect Yto .hea-d I when the parts 33., 34 and 35 of element 3S are in the position .shown .in .Eigure 2. The part 35 latching the pan and the part 33 coacting with the top of .hea-d 24 to suspend the pan. The pan S .is conveniently moved to and from coupled, clamped or latchedposition by handle f|4. If desired the pan 9 may be provided with 4suitable advertising matter. The lip 24a facilitates the entrance of element 3l into'the passage 29.

`What 1 claim is:

l; .A separable fastener Afor detachably connecting a dust pan to a broom head, said fastener comprising 'a male and female member for frictional Vdetachable interengagement, said male member formed Uf anfupstanding base and a resilient lateral strap-like extension, said base being apertured for the passage of holdfast means for anchoring it to the front face of a dust pan, said extension being formed of an upper stretch merging into a depending inclined outer stretch, said upper stretch inclining upwardly from the top of said base to the upper end of the outer stretch and constituting a suspension, said outer stretch being of greater height than that of and opposing saidbase, depending above and below the latter and of compound curvature, providing a resilient latching tongue and disposed in a direction to abut said face when said members are free of interengagement, said female member formed of a yoke having a base for seating .against lone side of a broom head and a pair of bendable pointed arms for extension through and for 'ibearing .against the other side of the broom head whereby the yoke is anchored stationary, said female member including an upstanding inwardly openingchannel .shaped .part extended laterally from and anchored to the front of said yoke base, said channel-shapepart and yoke base coactingt'o form a .keeper for the reception of the latching tongue to provide for the detachable interengagement of said members whereby the dust pan is rmly latched .to and suspendedfrom the broom.

2. Aseparable fastener for detachably connecting Va dust pan to a broom head, .said fastener comprising a male and female member for fric- Vtional `detachable Linteren'gagement, said male member formed of an upstanding kbase and a resilient lateral strap-like extension, said base Abeing apertured :for the passage of holdfast rmeans for anchoring it to the front face of a dust pan, said extension being formed of an upper stretch merging into a depending inclined outer stretch, .said upper stretch inclining upwardly from the 'top of said base to the upper end of the outer stretch and constituting a suspension, said outer stretch being of greater height than that of and opposing said base, depending above and below -the latter and of compound curvature, providing va resilient latching tongue .and disposed in a direction to abut said face when said members 'are free of interengagement, said female vmember formed of a yoke having a base for seating against one side of a broom head and a pair of bendable pointed larms for extension through and for bearing against the other side of the broom head whereby the yoke is anchored stationary, said female member including an upstanding inwardly opening channel shaped part extended laterally from and .anchored to the front of said yoke base, said channel-shape part and yoke base coacting .to form a keeper for the reception of the latching tongue to provide for the detachable interengagement 'of said members whereby the dust pan is firmly latched to and suspended from the broom, ysaid channel shaped part having the top of its front in the form of an outwardly directed guide lip.

3. A separable fastener for detachably connecting .a dust pan to a broom head, said fastener comprising a male and female member for frictional detachable interengagement, said male member formed of an upstanding base and a resilient lateral strap-like extension, said base being apertured for the passage of holdfast means for anchoring it to the front face of a dust pan, said extension being formed of an upper stretch merging into a depending inclined outer stretch, said upper stretch inclining upwardly from the top of said base to the upper Aend of the outer stretch and constituting a suspension, said outer stretch being of greater height than that of and opposing said base, depending above and below the latter, and providing a resilient latching tongue and disposed in a direction to abut said face when said members are free of interengagement, said female member formed of a yoke having a base for seating against one side of a broom head and a pair of bendable pointed arm's for extension through and for bearing against the other side of the broom head whereby the yoke is anchored stationary, said female member including an upstanding inwardly opening channel shaped part, extended laterally from and anchored to the front of said yoke base, said channel-shaped part and yoke base coacting to form a Vkeeper for the reception of the latching tongue to provide for the detachable interengagement of said members whereby the dust pan is firmly latched to and suspended from the broom.

4. A separable fastener for detachably connecting a dust pan to a broom head, said fastener comprising a male and female m-ember for frictional detachable interengagement, said male member formed of an upstanding base and a resilient lateral strap-like extension, said base being apertured for the passage of holdfast means for anchoring it to the front face of a dust pan, said extension being formed of an upper stretch merging into a depending inclined outer stretch, said upper stretch inclining upwardly from the top o said base to the upper end of the outer stretch and constituting a suspension, said outer stretch being of greater height than that of and opposing said base, depending above and below the latter, and providing a resilient latching tongue and disposed in a direction to abut said face when said members are free of interengagement, said female member formed of a yoke having a base for seating against one side of a broom head and a pair of bendable pointed arms for extension through and for bearing against the other side of the broom head whereby the yoke is anchored stationary, said female member including an upstanding inwardly opening channel shaped part extended laterally from and anchored to the front of said yoke base, said channel-shaped part and yoke base coacting to form a keeper for the reception oi the latching tongue to provide for the 'detachable interengagement of said members whereby the dust pan is firmly latched to and suspended from the broom, said channel shaped part having the top of its front in the form of an outwardly directed guide lip.

5. In a separable fastener for detachably connecting a dust pan to a broom head, an apertured base adapted to be positioned against the upper end of the front face of the pan, holdfast means extending through said base for anchoring the latter to said front face, a resilient lateral extension of strap-like form provided with an upper and an outer stretch, said upper stretch being integral at one end with the top of the basev and at its other end with the upper end of the outer stretch, said upper stretch inclining upwardly from said base to said outer stretch, said outer stretch being of compound curvature, opposing and extending above and below Said base, eX- tending towards and adapted for releasably abutting said front face below said base and constituting a shiftable latching tongue for frictional binding engagement with the broom head.

6. In a separable fastener for detachably connecting a broom to a dust pan, a yoke including a base adapted to abut one side of the broom head and a pair ofpointed bendable arms adapted to extend through and bendable for abutting the other side of the broom head for anchoring the yoke thereto, an inwardly opening vertically disposed channel shaped part abutting and extending laterally from the front face of said base, said part being formed at its sides with oppositely extending flanges anchored to the front face of said base adjacent said sides, said part and yoke providing a keeper adapted for frictional engagement with a latching tongue adapted to be carried by a dust pan whereby the latter is coupled to the broom head.

7. In a sep-arable fastener for detachably connecting a dust pan to a broom head, Va male member adapted to be carried by the dust pan for frictional detachable interengagement with a female member adapted to be carried by a broom head, said male member including a base adapted to be anchored to the dust pan and a resilient lateral extension of strap-like form provided with an upper and an outer stretch, said upper stretch being integral at one end with the top of said base and at the other end with the upper end of said outer stretch, said upper stretch inclining upwardly from said base to said outer stretch, said outer stretch being of compound curvature,

opposing and extending above and below saidv base, extending towards and releasably abutting said dust pan and constituting a shiftable latching tongue for frictional binding engagement with the female member.

ZENO B. SPENCE. 

